Fuel manifolding means for radial cylinder engines



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March 5, 1946. J. sTucKE v2,395,918

FUEL MANIFOLDING MEANS FOR RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINES Original Filed June 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5, 1946.

J. sTucKE FUEL MANIFOLDING MEANS FOR RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINES Original Filed June 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jkrz, 5in/078e i By @uw Mya/Mey 19mm Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL MANIFOLDING MEANS FOR RADIAL CYLINDER ENGINES 2 Claims. y (Cl. 12S-44) My invention relates to improvements in fuel manifolding means for radial cylinder internal combustion engines of the type exemplified in my copending application Serial No. 341,375,

filed June 19, 1940, now Patent Number 2,330,528

of September 28, 1943, and of which the instant application is a division.

By way of explanation, in the type of internal combustion engine with which my improvements are particularly lconcerned, the cylinders are mounted in radial position in a cylindrical casing and revolve together with the casing about a crank shaft and oppositely relative to the direction of rotation of the crank shaft.

It is the primary object of the instant invention to equip such engine with practical, simply constructed, and highly eiicient means for introducing an explosive mixture into the cylinder of the engine.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in vertical longitudinal section of a radial cylinder internal combustion engine equipped with my improvements,

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section,

Figure 3 is a detail view with parts in section of the gearing, and

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the stationary cam carrying member.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the letter A designates the cylindrical casing of the engine `and which is supported for rotary movement, inany suitable manner, on a base frame, a part of which is shown in Figure l and designated by the numeral 2. The casing A carries a plurality of cylinders 3 radially arranged therein to extend therefrom in pairs in diametrically opposite position in each pair, the pairs being laterally oiset and circumferentially staggered relatively. The inner ends of the cylinders 3 .extend into the casing A and are suitably atjtached to the latter. Each cylinder 3 is provided the exhaust passages .8 by exhaust manifolds I0.

The inlet valves are shown at I I, and the exhaust valves at I2.

The pistons I3 are connected, by connecting rods I4, to cranks I5 of a crank shaft I6 journaled in one end of the casing, as shown at I1, and having its other end journaled in a partition I8 in the casing, as shown at I9. A gear 20 is `fastened to that end of the crank shaft I6 which is passed through the partition I8 and a second partition 2l extends across the casing A and carries bearings 22 for a number of stub shafts 23 each of which has a gear 24 on one end meshing with a gear y20 of the crank shaft. A pinion 25 is carried by the other' end of each shaft 23 for meshing with a stationary gear 24' on a stationary hub 25 passing through an end of the casing A and attached to the frame part 2, as shown at 26. This arrangement of gearing causes both the casing A and the crank 'shaft I6 to rotate but in opposite directions relatively.

Coming now to my improved manifolding means, a tubular shaft 1 passes through the center of the partition 2| and also through a tubular part 28 which is rotatably arranged in the stationary hub 25. A carburetor, shown at C in dotted lines in Figure l, is in communication with the tubular member 21, and branches 29 extend from the inner end of the tubular member 21 through parts of the casing A and connect with the inlet manifolds 9 so as to supply explosive mixture to the cylinders 3.

Returning now to the valves Il, I2, and in further explanation of the operation of the engine, each valve is actuated by a bell crank30 pivotally supported in the casing A, with one arm of the bell crank engaging the valve stem and its other arm being engaged by a rod 3l slidably mounted in a sleeve 32' in the partition 2|. A second bell crank 33 is pivotally supported by a circular portion 34 in the casing A and is engaged by a rod 35. The rods 35 are engaged by the cams 36 on the Stationary hub 25, the arrangement being such that said cams will actuate the valves in the proper manner during rotation of the casing A and the rods 35 with said casing.

The casing A carries brackets 40, each of which includes an angle arm 4I having free portions extending inwardly toward the stationary hub 25 and equipped at the terminals thereof With contact rollers 42. The stationary part 25 has mounted thereon a housing 43 having a contact part 44 in its upper end for engagement by the rollers 42 as the latter rotate with the casing A. A plunger 45 is slidably arranged in the housing 43 and in a part of the stationary hub or member 25 and has its inner end seated in a cam groove 46 formed in the tubular member 28, the cam 46' formed by the bottom of said groove engaging the'plunger 45 so as to complete a circuit, not shown, to a spark plug 46 each time the high part of the cam engages the plunger, and a roller 42 engages the contact member 44. It is not deemed essential to a proper understanding of the present invention to describe the order in which the cylinders 3 fire.

An exhaust ring 49 is suitably mounted in stationary position at one end of the casing A and in surrounding relation to said casing and the exhaust manifolds I0 are suitablyarranged to exhaust into said ring. The numeral 50 designates the ily wheel on the crank shaft I6 and within the casing A.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described is susceptible to modiiication without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for introducing explosive mixture into the cylinders of a rotary internal combustion engine of the type including a cylinder carrying rotary crank case, a rotary crank Shaft extending through one end of the crank case, and a stationary hub extending through the opposite end of the crank case, said means including a tubular member passing through the stationary hub for rotary movement therein and having an inner end fixed in the crankcase, means for introducing an explosive mixture into the outer end of the tubular member, and conduits xed to and leading from the inner end of the tubular member out of the crankcase and to the cylinders carried by the rotary crank case.

2. Means for introducing explosive mixture into the cylinders of a rotary internal combustion engine of the type including a cylinder carrying rotary crank case, a rotary crank shaft extending through one end of the crank case, and a stationary hub extending into the opposite end of the crank case, said means including a tubu- ,lar member passing through the stationary hub for rotary movement and into said crank case,

means vfor introducing an explosive mixture linto the outer end of the tubular member, and conduits xed to and leading from the the inner end "of the tubular member out of said crank case and leach Aterminating in a manifold connected to a pair of cylinders.

JOHN STUCKE. 

